Idea 1
If you have time, it might be worth actually staying a night or two in Kandy on the way from the Cultural Triangle to the Hill Country. If you do this, you can then take the train through the plantations.
Sri Lanka & Maldives
Best time to go: All Year
Best for: Honeymoons, Culture & Beach, Cultural & Immersive
Best for: Honeymoons, Culture & Beach, Cultural & Immersive
Someone once asked us what made Sri Lanka and the Maldives such a great combination; we answered that it is like sipping a Gin & Tonic when mixed you mix the two, it is so utterly refreshing. It is perfect for a two-week winter sun escape, a honeymoon or even a family holiday. Although it is better in the winter months, the itinerary can easily be adapted in the summer when the north of Sri Lanka is best (the south coast gets hit by the monsoon).
We can tailor the itinerary totally around what you want to do, and your particular interests, maybe spending longer in Sri Lanka, for instance. This suggested itinerary is simply a perfect mixture of culture, adventure and beach. Although the Maldives is wonderful if you spend your entire time there, it is a little bit too much, so you need a week or so of something more immersive, and Sri Lanka is the perfect addition. As we said, together they are like an utterly refreshing G&T. Sit back, smile and let the magical experience unfold.
Begin in Colombo, where we definitely suggest a night close to the airport after you arrive from a long flight. Stay in the stunning Horathapola Estate or the Wallawwa. The next day, your private driver will meet you and take you to the Cultural Triangle. Here, you get your culture-fix. Climb the stunning Sigiriya Rock, and rediscover your inner-Indiana Jones at the ancient lost city of Pollonnaruwa. Delve into the caves of Dambulla to see full-size Buddhas on display. You then turn south, stopping in Kandy to explore the Temple of the Tooth. You will then spend three nights in the Hill Country. This stunningly beautiful corner of Sri Lanka is home to verdant tea plantations and wonderful views. Spend your days walking, or just looking out at the view, tea (or something stronger) in hand.
Return to Colombo for the short one-hour flight to the Maldives. We can offer a whole host of resorts in the Maldives, depending on your budget and particular requirements. This could be an all-inclusive resort, a resort with amazing over-water villas or an island that gives you that perfect barefoot retreat.
Guide Pricing
Starting At
LOCATION:
| £2705 | - | £3900 |
|---|---|---|
| Silver | Gold |
Price per person including all accommodation, private transfers, unique experiences and excluding international flights. We can arrange international flights should you wish.
Highlights
- Spend a week in Sri Lanka followed by five days, or more, in the Maldives
- Have a private driver/guide in Sri Lanka giving you flexibility to explore
- Explore the Ancient Cities, the Buddhist caves of Dambulla, see wildlife in Minneriya National Park, take walks through the Tea Plantations
- Kick-back on the amazing beaches of the Maldives
| Days | Location | Hotel |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Negombo | Horathapola Estate The Wallawwa |
| Day 2-4 | Cultural Triangle | Wildgrass Ulagalla |
| Day 5-7 | Hill Country | Rosyth Estate House Ceylon Tea Trails |
| Day 9-13 | Maldives | Velassaru Baros |
Day 1
Negombo
Horathapola Estate
The Wallawwa
Arrive into Sri Lanka, and after a long flight, you’ll won’t want to be heading off on any long drives so stay we suggest you stay close by, put you feet up and gently acclimatise to the tropical climate of the subcontinent, drink in hand!
Day 2
Cultural Triangle
Wildgrass
Ulagalla
Drive up to the Cultural Triangle and in the late afternoon climb up the amazing Sigiriya rock-fortress, offering spectacular views from the top and also superb murals in the caves halfway up.
Day 3
Cultural Triangle
Wildgrass
Ulagalla
Spend the day exploring Anuradhapura, the oldest of the ancient cities in the Cultural Triangle. You can also see Mihintale, the birthplace of Buddhism in Sri Lanka and again offering amazing views.
Day 4
Cultural Triangle
Wildgrass
Ulagalla
Visit Polonnaruwa, one of Sri Lanka’s ancient cities, and remarkably preserved. Its best to explore on a leisurely cycle ride with your guide, but we can of course see it all in a vehicle. Depending on your level of interest, you can see former royal palaces, lost temples and large brick dabogas. Continue to Minnerya National Park, where you will hopefully see the Asiatic elephant in the wild.
Day 5
Tea Country
Rosyth Estate House
Ceylon Tea Trails
Drive south via the Buddhist caves at Dambulla to the city of Kandy. After a quick look around the city, including the Temple of the Tooth, continue into the tea plantations for three nights.
Day 6
Tea Country
Rosyth Estate House
Ceylon Tea Trails
Your days up in the hills are very much at leisure, and many guests just like to put their feet up, get out a good book and enjoy the views. We do suggest heading down to the Tea Factory, or take some leisurely walks in the hills.
Day 7
Hill Country
Rosyth Estate House
Ceylon Tea Trails
If you want to be more active, we can arrange a visit to the colonial hill-station of Nuwara Eliya, a walk on Horton Plains, or even a climb of Adam’s Peak.
Day 8-12
Maldives
You will be driven back to Colombo for the flight to Male. On arrival, we will be waiting to take you by speedboat to your island.
Suggested Hotels
Itinerary Experiences
Customise Your Itinerary
We can tweak and change any element of this itinerary and you can depart on any day you want, add nights here and there, and we can fully customise your day-to-day experiences depending on your interests. Here are just a few ideas of many that we can look at and discuss when we come to plan your tailor-made itinerary.
Idea 2
You can of course extend your time in Sri Lanka and visit the south coast and explore Galle. There is a flight from the Tea Country to Koggala, just outside of Galle.
Idea 3
There are countless resorts in the Maldives, and these are only suggestions. We can offer a whole range of options and it will be worth discussing which resort is perfect for you.
Idea 4
Flights generally go via the Middle East, so why not have a stop-over in Dubai on the way to Sri Lanka or back from the Maldives?
Idea 5
If you want to add a little more wildlife into the itinerary, why not include Wilpattu National Park, close to the Cultural Triangle.
Idea 6
You might want some more off-the-beaten track experiences, and there are a couple of places, such as the Mudhouse, which do this perfectly. You then have a great blend of highlights, and more cultural experiences in the itinerary.